Baicalin promotes cholesterol efflux by regulating the expression of SR-BI in macrophages.

Intake of a high dosage of baicalin has previously been shown to attenuate hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet. Baicalin functions as an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), which is the key regulator of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that baicalin could promote cholesterol efflux in macrophages through activating PPAR-γ.

Prognosis of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinomas with HBV Infection is Better than Those with Hepatolithiasis After R0 Liver Resection: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The impact of different causative factors of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) on disease outcome remains largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of ICC patients with different pathogenic factors after hepatectomy.

Methods: Data of 731 consecutive patients undergoing R0 liver resection for ICC at The Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital between 2004 and 2010 were analyzed.

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor expression levels in cervical cancer and their effects on tumor cell proliferation.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play important roles in angiogenesis, wound healing, embryonic development, and endocrine signaling pathways. Increasingly, recent studies have reported aberrant FGF expression in various malignancies. However, the involvement of FGFs in cervical carcinoma pathogenesis remains unclear.

Intranasal oxytocin administration improves depression-like behaviors in adult rats that experienced neonatal maternal deprivation.

Oxytocin (OT), a hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been implicated in the regulation of social behaviors in rodents and humans. This study assessed the effects of intranasal administration of OT on depressive-like behaviors and hippocampal neurogenesis in adult rats following neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD). Here, we show that NMD resulted in significant depression-like behaviors, as indicated by decreases in physical activity and emotional reactivity in a novel environment, in 2-month-old animals.

Downregulation of long non-coding RNA HCG11 predicts a poor prognosis in prostate cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have been reported as key regulators in the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we found that the expression levels of HCG11 in PCa tissues were significantly lower than those in non-tumor tissues in publically available databases and in human PCa samples. Our results showed the expression levels of HCG11 in patients with PCa were associated with the age, Lymph Node Status (LN status), preoperative PSA level, Gleason score, and biochemical recurrence (BCR).

Effects of PARP-1 inhibitor and ERK inhibitor on epithelial mesenchymal transitions of the ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.

Background: To assess the effects of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor PJ34 and ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 on the proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transitions (EMT) of cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells.

Methods: Proliferation of SKOV-3 cells was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay with PJ34 and U0126 treatment. Expression changes of E-cadherin and vimentin with PJ34 and U0126 treatment was examined using Western blot and quantitative PCR.

[The effects of β-elemene on rabbit VX2 laryngeal carcinoma and factors associated with tumor growth and metastasis].

Objective: To investigate the inhibition effect of β-elemene on the growth and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Sixty-six rabbits were vaccinated with suspension of VX2 cancer tissues to establish a rabbit laryngeal carcinoma model and then they were randomly treated with the injection of 0.9% sodium chloride solution (as a control), cisplatin, or β-elemene from the seventh day after vaccination.

The antinociception of oxytocin on colonic hypersensitivity in rats was mediated by inhibition of mast cell degranulation via Ca(2+)-NOS pathway.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of oxytocin (OT) on visceral hypersensitivity/pain and mast cell degranulation and the underlying mechanisms. We found that oxytocin receptor (OTR) was expressed in colonic mast cells in humans and rats, as well as in human mast cell line-1 (HMC-1), rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3) and mouse mastocytoma cell line (P815). OT decreased 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced visceral hypersensitivity, colonic mast cell degranulation and histamine release after mast cell degranulation in rats.

Nitidine chloride inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis via the Akt pathway and exhibits a synergistic effect with doxorubicin in ovarian cancer cells.

Nitidine chloride (NC) exhibits anti-tumor properties in various types of tumor. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no previous evidence of NC involvement in the apoptosis or proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of NC on the viability and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and the synergistic effect NC and doxorubicin (DOX) may have on ovarian cancer cells.

Anti‑migratory effect of rapamycin impairs allograft imaging by 18F‑fluorodeoxyglucose‑labeled splenocytes.

Tracking lymphocyte migration is an emerging strategy for non‑invasive nuclear imaging of allografts; however, its clinical application remains to be fully demonstrated. In the present study, the feasibility of using rapamycin‑treated 18F‑fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‑FDG)‑labeled splenocytes for the in vivo imaging of allografts was evaluated. C57BL/6 skin was heterotopically transplanted onto non‑obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient recipient mice.

[Expression and clinical significance of autophagy-related gene Beclin1 and P62 in nasal polyps].

Objective: To investigate the expression of autophagy-related gene Beclin1 and P62 in nasal polyps and its relationship with the pathogenesis of this disease.

Methods: The specimens were divided into two groups: nasal polyp tissue(n=50) and normal inferior turbinate mucosa(n=20). The general morphology was detected with hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, the expression of Beclin1 and P62 was examined with immunohistochemistry(IHC) and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR).

Androgen-induced miR-135a acts as a tumor suppressor through downregulating RBAK and MMP11, and mediates resistance to androgen deprivation therapy.

The main challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is that the majority of patients inevitably develop resistance to androgen deprivation. However, the mechanisms involved in hormone independent behavior of PCa remain unclear. In the present study, we identified androgen-induced miR-135a as a direct target of AR.

Nitidine chloride suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion through Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway.

Metastasis is the main cause of death in osteosarcoma. Targeting the process of metastasis is a main strategy for osteosarcoma therapy. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb) has been applied to treat various diseases, including cancer.

Testosterone delays vascular smooth muscle cell senescence and inhibits collagen synthesis via the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway.

Testosterone deficiency is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases in men. However, its effect on cell senescence, which plays a causal role in vascular aging, remains unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that testosterone alleviated vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence and collagen synthesis via growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6)/Axl- and Akt/FoxO1a-dependent pathways.

A novel tumor-promoting mechanism of IL6 and the therapeutic efficacy of tocilizumab: Hypoxia-induced IL6 is a potent autophagy initiator in glioblastoma via the p-STAT3-MIR155-3p-CREBRF pathway.

Hypoxia induces protective autophagy in glioblastoma cells and new therapeutic avenues that target this process may improve the outcome for glioblastoma patients. Recent studies have suggested that the autophagic process is upregulated in glioblastomas in response to extensive hypoxia. Hypoxia also induces the upregulation of a specific set of proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) in a variety of cell types.

[Microsurgical anatomy and DSA research about venous anastomosis of superficial cerebral veins].

Objective: To investigate the distribution and clinical significance about venous anastomosis of superficial cerebral vein in normal adult.

Methods: The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images of the venous phase from 50 normal adults were retrospectively analyzed, and the morphology of venous anastomosis of superficial cerebral veins was observed and measured. While venous anastomosis of superficial cerebral veins of 15 (30 sides) cadaveric heads was observed through blood vessel perfusion.

Ampelopsin suppresses TNF-α-induced migration and invasion of U2OS osteosarcoma cells.

Ampelopsin has been suggested as a novel anticancer agent, however, there is no evidence regarding its direct effect on the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. The aims of the present study were to investigate the influence of ampelopsin on the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Scratch wound healing and Transwell assays were used to measure the migratory and invasive activities of the cells, respectively.

Rotenone induces apoptosis in human lung cancer cells by regulating autophagic flux.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are at the center of many physiological and pathological processes. ROS generated due to oxidative stress can potentiate both cancer initiation and progression. Rotenone, which is an inhibitor of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I, results in the activation of NOX2 and release of ROS, and has been shown to display anticancer activity through the induction of apoptosis in various cancer cells.

Serum Beta-Trace Protein as a Novel Predictor of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension.

Beta-trace protein (BTP) has emerged as a novel biomarker of cardiovascular risk. However, the level of circulating BTP in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of serum BTP in healthy pregnant women and patients with PIH.

Nitidine chloride inhibits ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion by suppressing MMP-2/9 production via the ERK signaling pathway.

Nitidine chloride (NC) has been demonstrated to exert anti-tumor effects on various types of tumor. However, no studies have investigated the anti‑metastatic effect of NC on ovarian cancer cells, and the underlying mechanisms have not yet been clearly established. The present study aimed to determine the effect of NC on the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.

L-Cysteine enhances nutrient absorption via a cystathionine-β-synthase-derived H2 S pathway in rodent jejunum.

Hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) is generated endogenously from L-cysteine (L-Cys) by the enzymes cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE). In addition, L-Cys is commonly used as a precursor in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of the present study is to determine whether L-Cys regulates intestinal nutrient transport.

Autophagy in allografts rejection: A new direction?

Despite the introduction of new and effective immunosuppressive drugs, acute cellular graft rejection is still a major risk for graft survival. Modulating the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs is not a good choice for all patients, new rejection mechanisms discovery are crucial to limit the inflammatory process and preserve the function of the transplant. Autophagy, a fundamental cellular process, can be detected in all subsets of lymphocytes and freshly isolated naive T lymphocytes.

Visfatin Destabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaques in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

Objectives: Although there is evidence that visfatin is associated with atherogenesis, the effect of visfatin on plaque stability has not yet been explored.

Methods: In vivo, vulnerable plaques were established by carotid collar placement in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice, and lentivirus expressing visfatin (lenti-visfatin) was locally infused in the carotid artery. The lipid, macrophage, smooth muscle cell (SMC) and collagen levels were evaluated, and the vulnerability index was calculated.

A transcriptional target of androgen receptor, miR-421 regulates proliferation and metabolism of prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies, and microRNAs have been recognized to be involved in tumorigenesis of various kinds of cancer including prostate cancer (PCa). Androgen receptor (AR) plays a core role in prostate cancer progression and is responsible for regulation of numerous downstream targets including microRNAs. This study identified an AR-repressed microRNA, miR-421, in prostate cancer.